MEET OUR BOARD
Maria Alderete, Executive Director & Co-Founder of Community Kitchens
Maria came to Oakland over 30 years ago working minimum wage in restaurants while obtaining a BA at UC Berkeley in Economics. After 15 years working in finance at Montgomery Securities and marketing at Working Assets/Credo Mobile, she co-founded and opened Luka's Taproom & Lounge, the restaurant known for revitalizing the Uptown neighborhood. As a community leader, she has organized several industry fundraisers for OUSD schools and immigrant nonprofits, as well as participating in Oakland Small Business Task force, Oakland Economic Recovery Advisory Council and board membership on Oakland Parks Foundation. She also worked with Oakland Art Murmur, The Great Wall of Oakland and BANDALOOP on various art programming and free community events in Oakland. Community engagement was a critical part of Luka’s identity and success and that spirit lives on in Community Kitchens.
Richard Mitchell, Chair of the CK Board, former owner of Luka’s Taproom & Lounge & Co-Founder of Community Kitchens
Leaving behind a career as a tax attorney in 2003, Richard Mitchell, brought Luka’s Taproom & Lounge to Uptown where he entertained Oakland every night for nearly two decades. Richard has trained and mentored hundreds of restaurant workers, helping them build the skills to advance their careers into management and ownership. Since retiring in 2022, Richard has dedicated his time to Community Kitchens in every role, from delivery driver and home chef, to strategic planning and development.
Tori Decker, Treasurer of the CK Board, Operations Director of Uptown and Downtown Community Business Districts
Tori Decker was born and raised in Oakland and has been with the Uptown Downtown Oakland CBDs since their formation in 2010. Tori has served in the capacity of Operations Director since 2012, delivering operational efficiency and diligent budget planning and oversight. When she’s not wrangling people and putting out fires, Tori enjoys artisanal coffee, and snuggling with Xander, her not-so-lap-sized German Shepherd rescue. She is honored to work daily for the betterment of her hometown of Oakland, CA, in both her day job and volunteer efforts, which include serving on the Fairyland Gala Committee and as a board member and treasurer of Community Kitchens.
Adiam Tsegaye, Secretary of the CK Board, Owner of Mela Bistro Ethiopian Restaurant
Adiam Tsegaye was born and raised in Ethiopia. She graduated from the culinary institute (FCAS) in Florence Italy and Stratford culinary institute. Adiam moved to the Bay Area in 2005 and running cafe Lenza, Adiam Teff Delights, and now Mela Bistro Ethiopian in Uptown Oakland. Mela means sharing in Tigrinya language, so it’s not surprising Adiam is a founding Dining for Justice restaurant partner and Community Kitchens board member. Mela Bistro has been named on of the Top 25 Restaurants in the Bay Area by Soleil Ho of SF Chronicle.
Candice Elder, Founder and Executive Director of The East Oakland Collective
Candice, an East Oakland native, is the Founder and Executive Director of The East Oakland Collective (EOC). Candice has a background in law, philanthropy and nonprofit management. Candice founded EOC in 2016 to drive racial and economic equity in East Oakland. It was the long stemming disinvestment and lack of resources in East Oakland that compelled Candice to start this grassroots community organization harnessing the collective power of millennials. Candice brings her wealth of experience serving on community focused committees, boards and more to her leadership role in EOC. Candice was the President of the Museum of African Disapora (MoAD) Vanguard Leadership Council from 2014-2016. Candice was appointed to a 2-year term on the City of Oakland’s first Commission on Homelessness; serves on the Board of Directors for East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EBPREC), Community Kitchens and TechEquity Action.
Nigel Jones, Chef and Owner of Kingston11 and Calabash Restaurant
Nigel Jones is a chef, restaurateur and entrepreneur committed to sharing the rich foods of his native Jamaica and the African diaspora, while creating sustainable opportunities for people of color. He was born in Kingston Jamaica and migrated to the United States when he was 15 years old. His professional career includes 10 years of senior level management positions at Levi Strauss & Company before venturing into a full career in the restaurant industry in 2010. Nigel has volunteered as a youth mentor for Beyond Emancipation, an Oakland nonprofit supporting young adults as they age out of foster care. Nigel was recently recognized as “A Cultural Experience” 2023 Honoree from the AMP U.P. Award for Amplifying Unbounded Possibilities in our community.
Chris Pastena, Former Owner of Calavera and Chop Bar
Chris is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a recipient of the James Beard Award for his culinary volunteer work with local schools. Chris worked his way up from dishwasher to management to business owner of Chop Bar, Calavera, Tribune Tavern and Lungomare and has always prioritized community engagement. He embarked on his culinary journey with the understanding that food was more than just what you put on the plate, it was about building a community at the table. As the son of a gay father, Chris donates his time to cook for people in the last stages of life with AIDS and helps to raise money for the LBGTIQA+ community. Chris has worked with famed chef José Andrés and his World Central kitchen, and sits on the board of the Ralph J. Bunche Academy, Jack London Improvement District, and Community Kitchens.
Marisa Raya, Community Autonomy Planning and Economic Development Consultant; PhD student researching Land Access and Reparations in California
Marisa Raya is a planner and community and economic development strategist. She has nearly two decades of public sector experience, including as a Regional Planner at the Association of Bay Area Governments, where she led the creation of anti-displacement goals, policies and programs, and at City of Oakland, where she led economic research, strategy and support for entrepreneurs. Marisa lectures in urban and regional planning at Stanford and is currently working on a dissertation at the University of California - Davis.
Abel Guillén, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction
As Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction in Tony Thurmond’s office, Abel oversees the California Department of Education’s budget, accounting, information systems, and personnel services; apportionment of state and federal resources to local educational agencies (LEAs); and assistance to LEAs for fiscal and business aspects of public schools. Abel Guillen is formerly the District 2 Oakland City Councilmember inaugurated January 2015. Prior to that, he was a Peralta Community College District trustee and worked at Caldwell Flores Winters, Inc., in 2000 and has served in various roles at the education facilities and finance firm, most recently as Executive Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Chief Public Policy Officer. While at CFW, he worked with school districts throughout California to raise more than $3 billion for the construction, renovation and modernization of classrooms and other school facilities.